Gas-engine.



PATENTBD MAB.. 27, 1906.

W. HEKERT.

GAS ENGINE.

APPLwArIeH fuma nu' le. 190s.

SHEETS-SHEET l.

Wwf/WWW All Sra-ventes PATENTBD MAR. 2?, N06,

W. ECKBRT.

GAS ENGINE.

Fulcrum FILED une. moa.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM HECKERT, OI? FIN DLAY, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HENRY W. SENEY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

No. s 16,549.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Merch 27, 1906,

Original application ledJune 13,1902, Serial No. 111,537. Divided and this application filed May 18, 1903. Serial No. '1,608.

of sir end gus or cir :ind vaporized oil, nephthe, end the like. An engine of such chardoter embodying my present invention is illustrated end described in my pending application, filed tlune i3, 1902, Serial No. 11i,53', of which the present application is s division,

The princi nl object oi the invention is to provide on cilioiont gais generating and mixing apparatus with improved ineens for atomising and injecting oil into the gos-genern ating chamber thereof and with improved means for supplying seid apparatus with heated oir am for heating such cir bv con-f tact with the interior surface oi the cylinder,A

thus also cooling the cylinder-wells.

The invention will hereinafter iirst be de scribed with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a, part of thisspeoication, and then he pointed out more portiere lerly in the annexed claims.

In said drawings, wherein corresponding parts in the several views cre indicated h ilre symbols of reference, Figure 1 is e longitudinal central vertical section of the cylin-Y der and adjacent parts of en engine einhmiy-Y ing my invention. Fig. 2 is s. central horizontel section thereof. elevationof the same. lon itodinei sectional view of the oil feeding an atomzing device. Fi 5 is o, similar view of an airvelve for regu sting the su ply of sir to the gas-generating chamber, 6 and 7 are detail sectional views or t e valves in the piston-ectuated air-puin and Fi 8 is a front end view of one of the ollow ve ved plunger-rods of seid einpemp.

The engine illustrated is of the same gen- ,eralrconstruction es that shown and Vdescribed in my United States Letters Patent, No. 708,637, dated" September 9, 1902, and

Fig; 3 is a, rear endim Fig, 4 is an solo "ed oil, ne litho, or the folosed end or comhustion-ohember of the cylinder, es Will hereinafter be explained. The cylinder is shown provided with e water space D around it, hiving a surrnounting steam-dome E, the outlet-openin of which may be connected to apipe or ot 1er ineens for conducting the steam to any apparatus Where the steam is to be used for heating, motive, or other ur uses. At its A:iront or ges end the cylin er is Shown provided with an annuler ges-space c, opening into the coinbustion-chamher Within the e Iinder et such end, While et its opposite en it is provided with a distinct ges space or chamber e', heving en exhaust-valve c. The seid sis-spaces c sind c are connected by As. series o fire-lines F within the annular water-space D, so that the exheusbgeses from the oombustionchember or gas end of the cylinder een poss from the gasspace c through seid flues into the gas-space c and thence through the exhaustvalve, thus-heating the water in said waterspeoe. The exhaust-valve may be operated automatically by suitable connections with the crank-shaft or other Ineens, thus also controlling the admission of the explosive charges into the combustion-chamber.

The particular construction of Vthe cylinder Vend surrounding parts constitutes the subjeotqnatter of my aforesaid application, and it will be understood that the present invention is independent of such construction and is applicable to any ordinary forni of gas-eik e. gmThe front cylinder-heed is hollow, thereby roviding en annuler ges-generating chem- Eer G, into which e su ly of gas or :itemized illiernay be admitted throu any suitable feeding device, though I preerably employ an o' atomlzlng and feeding device H, Figs. 2, 3, and 4, operating in eonluncton with air and gas mixing'devices, whereby crude oil may be :itemized ber. This hollow oylindereed forming the front end of the explosion-chamber is seand injected into seid gas-glenerating ehem' IDO cured to the fiaring or enlarged end of the cylinder, providing the annular fire-space c, surrounding the gas generating chamber G. Said annular fire-space c is of greater diameter than the cylinder and is open to the explosion-chamber thereof and is also in direct communication with the fire-fines F, as aforesaid. The oil injected into the generatingchamber G by reason of the intense heat to which it is subjected is vaporized therein. The vaporized oil or gas then passes through a suitable port g into a distinct mixing-chamber J to be commingled with air, and from said mixing-chamber the commingled gas and air passes through a suitable va ve and through a passage leading centrally through the gas-generating chamber into the combustion-chamber, wherein it is compressed on the return or reverse stroke of the piston and menzexpledcdhymeansof an suitable i nitl",m Any suitable air and gas mixing devices may he employed. As such devices do not per se form a part of my present invention, they are not specifically described herein. The forni shown is similar to the construction disclosed in my United States Letters Patent No, 425,132, dated April 8, 1890.

The illustrated construction, as above described, provides asiinple compact structure notably free from the elaborateness and complications which characterize many gas-engines, and it provides in this simple structure a most efficient means for producin the explosive charges and introducing t ie same into the cylinder', for the generating-chamber G, into which the atomized oil or gas is injected, has its inner wall forming the front of the explosion -chaniber, and, furthermore, said generating-chamber is surrounded by the annular tire-space r, so that the material injected into said generating-chamber is instantly subjected to the intense heat from the explosion-chainher and surrounding fire-space c. The vaporized oil or gas thence passes into the adjacent but distinct mixing-chamber J, where it is coinniingled with air, and thence the commingled air and gas pass through the valve-controlled passage to the explosioli-chamber of the cylinder, said valvecontrolled passage leading through the generating-chamber The said oil atoinizin and feeding device H may consist of a tubu ar body h, bolted or otherwise secured to the cylinder-head at the gas end of the engine and having a conical bore opening into the generating-chamber and provided with two nozzles h and h2, which are inserted in suitable apertures therein at an angle to each other, one of which nozzles h is provided with an adjustable needlevalve h3 and is in communication with a feedpipe h, leading from an air-reservoir or any suitable source of compressed air, while the other nozzle h2 communicates with a feedpipe h5, leading from an oil-reservoir or any suitable suppl of gas or oil. By such construction crude oil or naphtha introduced through the pipe h5 and nozzle h is intercepted bv a jet of air issuing through the valved nozzle h, whereby the oil is atomized and then injected into the gas-generating chainber G. A waste valve or cock L is placed beneath the generating-chamber to permit the removal of ta'r or other waste material resultng from the generation of gas in said cham- For re ulating the admission of air into the mixing-e amber J for adinixture with the gas or vapor issuing thereinto from the generating-chamber I may provide a hollow projection or horn K, Fig. 3, extending out from the casing of said mixing-chamber and unitin r with a hollow boss k on or secured to the cy inder-liead and having an aperture in the outer end thereof through which passes a stud projecting from one end of a rotary or oscillating valve c, said stud having a handle k2 andl a pointer k3, o erating in connection with an index c for a( justing and indicating the position of the ort or ports c in said valve registering witii a similar port or ports in the boss c for controlling the admission of air through such ports into the mixing-chamber. A ipe extension c" may be screwed into the oss k with its rear end open to the air at a point just below the cylinder, so as to receive heated air for conducting into the mixing-chamber, or air may be drawn directly into the rear open end of the boss.

For the purpose of utilizing the heat absorbed by the piston and cylinder in heating air to be used in the production of the explosive charges and at the saine time cooling the piston and interior cylinder-surface I have provided a piston-actuated airpump for causing a circulation of air around the piston in contact with the interior walls of the cylinder. To this end the piston is interiori)v bored or provided on opposite sides thereof with tubes or barrels M and N to receive hollow plungers or piston-rods and P, respectively, the latter having their outer ends fixed and thence extending through suitable stufl'- ingboxes in the tubes or barrels therefor in the piston. A check-valve o, fitted in the piston-rod 0, Fig. 6, opens inwardly or in the direction of the reverse movement of the engine-piston, and a similar valve p in the other plun er or piston rod, Fiv. 7, opens outwardy or in the direction of the opposite or working movement of the piston, and the former piston-rod is provided with an airinlet, as at o', Fig. 2, while the hitter pistonrod is provided with an air-outlet, as at p', leading to an air-reservoir Q, having a pipe connection With the gas-generating apparatus. As shown, said reservoir is connected to the ipe h, which supplies air to the oil atomizin and feeding device, though, if desired, sai pipe connection may lead into the ICO mixin -chamher The lonvitudinal bores or tubes l and N are provided one with an outlet and the other with an inlet port, leading to a groove or channel l, connecting saidYV ports around the piston in order that the air admitted at one side may circulate around the pistou in contact with the hot interior walls of the cylinder and be forced out at the other side into the com )ressednir reservoir Q. The air-pump thus described acts on the principle of a suction and force punip-that 1s to say, on the reverse stroke of the engine- Hston a vacuum is formed in the boro or tube at the inlet side thereof, which causes a suction of air into such boro or tube, while ou the working stroke the checiivalve o closes and the air is forced out through the inletport into and around the channel in the iston, taking up heat from the interior ey inder-surface, and thence through the opposite port into the bore or tube N al then opposite side of the piston and throiigh the haeltwardly-opening check-valve i out iroin the hollow piston-rod at that side and into the air-reservoir.

The operation of the engine will be well understood. In startinff, as the piston moves forward an initiall charge of mixed air and gas is admitted into the cylinder and then compressed on the reverse stroke, then exploded, forcing forward the piston, and on the next reverse stroke the waste roducts of combustion are forced through the flues F and exhausted. 0n the next forward stroke, the exhaust-valve having closed, a vacuum is formed in the gas end of the cylinder, causing the air and gas inlet valve to open, thereby again admitting a change of air and gas, which is compressed. on the next reverse stroke and exploded at thc proper time by means of any suitable device or igniter, and so on, so as to iinpel the piston by the action of the expansion-gases at every seeond stroke.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. ln a gas-engine, the combination with the cylinder and its working piston, of the hollow cylinder-head constituting an annular generatin -chainher adjacent irrimediately to an encircled by the explosionchamber of the cylinder, means for introducing oil or explosive-rendering material into said generating-chamber, a mixing-chamber on the cylinder-head having a port for admitting gas thereinto from said generatingchamber and having communication with an air-supply, a distinct passage leading from said mixing-chamber through the generatingchamber into the explosion-chamber, and a valve controlling admission of explosive mixture to said passa o adapted to open on the suction-stroke of tepiston.

2. In a gas-engine the combination of a cyiindcr'having a Haring end providing an annulariire-spa of greater diameter than the cylinder and open to the explosion- Ychamber thereof, a hollow eyiinder-head of the cylinder and having Y explosion-chamber of the cylinder.

3. ln a gas-engine, the combination of a cylinder having at one end of its explosionc lamber en annuiar fire-space of greater diameter than the cylinder, a series of fire- {iues surrounding the cylinder and eommunieating with said annular` fire-space, a hollow head closing said end of the cylinder and havin an internal gas-generating chainher eneirc ed by said annular lire-space, means for introducing oil or explosive-rendering material into said generating-chamber, and means'V for admitting generated gas into the explosion-chamber of the cylinder.

4. in a gas-engine, the combination with the cylinder and iston, of an air-reservoir and pipe connections leading therefrom to the gas end of the cylinder, and means for causing a current of ai'r to circulate around the piston in contact with the interior walls of the cylinder and to pass thence into said reservoir for supplying heated air to the gas generating and mixing apparatus.

5. In a gas-engine, the combination with the cylinder and reciprocating piston therein having a groove or channel around its pcriphery and lon itudinal bores or tubes on `opposite sides t ereof with ports opening into said channel, hollow piston-rods fitting said tubes or bores, one havin an airnlet and the other having an air-out et leading to an air-reservoir, an inWardiy-opening valve in the former rod, and an outwardiy-opening valve in the other rod, Whereh on recip're cation of the piston a current oiyair is forced around said iston-in contact with the interior walls of t e cylinder and thence into said reservoir.

6. In a gas-engine, the combination With the cylinder and reciprocating piston therein having a roove or channel around its periphery, o an air-reservoir, and an air-pump connected with the said channel around the piston for pumping air into said channel and thence to said reservoir during reciproeation of the piston.

V'Irwin a gas-engine, the combination with the cylinder and piston, of the cylinder-head formed hetween its outer and inner walls with a gas-generating chamber therein substantialiy surrounded by the explosionin chamber havlng communication With said generating-chamber and with a source of air-supply, and a valved conduit leading from said mixing-chamber through the enerating-chamber to the explosion-cham er.

8. In a gas-engine, the combination with the cylinder and its working piston, of the hollow cylinder-head constituting a gas-generating chamber into which oil or explosiverendering material is introduced, an annular fire-space surrounding said generating-chamber and o ening into the explosion-chamber of the cyiinder, a distinct mixing-chamber into which gas from said generating-chamber and air from an air-supply are introduced, a distinct passage leading from said mixingchamber into the explosion-chamber of the cylinder, and a valve for admitting explosive mixture from said mixing-chamber into said passage on the suction-stroke of the piston.

Q. In a gaseengine, the combination of a cylinder whose explosion-chamber merges into an enlarged annular space at one end, a hollow cylinder-head inclosing said cylinder and space and having its inner face or wall projected inward and having its internal chamber serving as a gas-generating chamber surrounded by said annular space, means for introducing oil or explosive-rendering material into said generating chamber, a valve for admitting the gas generated therefrom into the explosion-chamber on the suction-stroke of the piston, and an annular series of fire-(lues connnunicating with said annular lire-space for conveying off the exhaust-gases.

1U. In a gas-engine, the combination with the cylinder and its working piston, of the cylinder-head having a gas-generating chamber therein adjacent to the explosioncham` ber of the cylinder, an oil-feeding device associated with the cylinder-head consisting of a member having a conical bore the larger end of which opens into said generatingchamber and a longitudinal airnozzle at the smaller end of said bore for injecting air thereinto and an adjustable needle-valve for controlling said air-nozzle and an oil-nozzle in said member behind and at an angle to said air-nozzle, and a distinct mixin -chamber adjacent to the generating-cham er and having a port for admitting vaporized oil or gas thereinto from said generatinghamber, means for supplying air into said mixingchamber for commingling with the gas, and a distinct valve controlled passage leading from said mixing-chamber into the explosion-chamber of the cylinder for conducting the commingled explosive mixture thereto on the suction-stroke of the piston.

11. In a gas-engine, the combination with the c linder and its Working piston, of the cylin er-head having a gas-generating chamber therein adjacent to the explosion-chamber of the cylinder, means for introducing explosive-rendering material into said generating-chamber, an adjacent mixing-chamber having a port into which vaporized oil or as is admitted from said generating-chamer, a cylindrical air-chamber in connection with said mixin chamber, a tubular rotary or oscillatory va ve in said air-chamber, registering ports in said valve and the wall of said air-chamber, the ort in the latter being in connection with sai mixing-chamber, an a valve-controlled passage leading from the mixing-chamber into the explosion-chamber of the cylinder. y

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM HECKERT.

Witnesses:

A. L. PORTER, C. H. FERvEL. 

